WORKING GROUPS

Arising out of the General Members Meeting on Second-level Educate Together Education in January 2008, working groups were formed to further develop policy on specific aspects of Second-level Educate Together Education.

Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Methodologies
This group has been meeting since May 2008. Its terms of reference are to:

1. Gather examples from national and international literature of innovative, balanced approaches to education, teaching and learning methods, assessment, etc.
2. Draw up a draft curriculum for junior and senior cycle which will fully reflect the Educate Together Ethos
3. Make recommendations as to how information on “good schools” can be collected in coherent manner.

Working Paper Published in June 2008: A Proposed Curricular Framework for an Educate Together Second-level School, Kathleen Geraghty

Management and Structure
This group has been meeting since March 2008. Its terms of reference are to:

1. Research and discuss different management and leadership structures and approaches and make recommendations as to what approach would best reflect the Educate Together ethos.
2. Draw up a draft school plan which includes draft policies on: enrolment, language and literacy (including EAL and minority languages), equality (including racism and other forms of discrimination).
3. Draw up recommendations on criteria and procedures for recruitment of staff.

Campus and Built Environment
This group is meeting in July 2008. Its terms of reference are to:

1. Research best international practice in second-level / joint campus school design and architecture (with reference to good environmental practice)
2. Liaise with Department of Education and Science Planning and Building section and local Councils regarding regulations, etc.

Ethical Education Curriculum
This group first met in May 2008. Its terms of reference are to:

1. Develop a Position Statement on Ethical Education in Second-level Educate Together schools
2. Plan a Project to develop an Educate Together Ethical Education Curriculum for second-level schools

It is hoped that further working groups will be formed to develop the following areas:
Consulting Children and Young People
While each of the Working Groups adheres to Educate Together’s learner-centred and democratic priciples, and as such is obliged to place learners and learning needs at the centre of its discussions, more extensive consultation with children and young people will further enhance the success of the Project.

Lobbying and Campaigning
Educate Together’s history is one of successful campaigns to enable families to exercise their constitutional and human rights to choose the type of education they want. While the need to provide continuity for primary to second-level, and the demand for Educate Together Second-level Education are clearly established, a planned, sustained campaign will be necessary in order to realise the goal of establishing schools.